Case Management Speeds Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Public Screening Program

Low-income and uninsured women have worse breast cancer outcomes (more advanced stage at diagnosis, lower stage-specific survival rates, and higher death rates) than do higher-income and insured women. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) was initiated in 1990 to fund screening and diagnostic services for low-income uninsured women. Now, investigators ask whether case management (implemented in 1998) and Medicaid-subsidized treatment services (introduced in 2000) have facilitated breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Data on timeliness of diagnosis (confirmation or ruling out of malignancy within 60 days of abnormal mammogram) and treatment (initiation within 90 days of abnormal mammogram) were evaluated…